AMHERST – Issues such as the death of a parent, divorce and caring for an aging parent are some of the features of this year’s One Book Nova Scotia selection.

Announced on Monday, Ali Bryan’s Roost is set in Halifax.

“While the main character, Claudia, faces many challenges, Ali Bryan presents the story with numerous laugh-out-loud moments. We think Nova Scotians will be able to relate to Claudia,” One Book Nova Scotia steering committee co-chair Tasya Tymczyszyn said.

Roost was selected by a committee of librarians and industry professionals in Nova Scotia who used the following criteria: must be written by a living Canadian author; must be able to generate discussion and exchange of ideas; must be appealing to a broad range of adult readers of varying ages, literacy levels, and life experience; must be in print and available for purchase in paperback; and it must be strongly written with a compelling story, characters, and setting that will generate excitement among readers.

The book also has a local connection in that Bryan spent time growing up in Sackville, N.B. and attended Tantramar High School.

Cumberland Public Libraries deputy chief librarian Chantelle Taylor said the book is available at all the county’s branches and will be the topic of discussion at the system’s six book clubs in September and October.

Both she and chief librarian Denise Corey have read the book and agree it’s a good book.

“It’s a fast read. The chapters are very short and it’s something someone who’s having a very busy day can read,” Corey said.

While the book has its sad moments, Corey said, there were times when she literally laughed out loud – especially the parts when the main character is dealing with her children.

Bryan will be at the Four Fathers Memorial Library on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. for a reading.

The main goal with One Book Nova Scotia is to encourage a culture of reading in Nova Scotia.

Roost is available to borrow at libraries across the province. It is available for existing CNIB clients in DAISY formats (CD, MP3, and direct downloads) as well as in Braille and eBraille formats.

An eAudio version will be available through the National Network of Equitable Library Service (NNELS) when it launches in Nova Scotia in October 2014.

Access to this service is provided to all Nova Scotians with perceptual disabilities via self-identification and account activation at their public library. The book can also be purchased at your local bookstore or online.

More information about One Book Nova Scotia can be found at www.1bns.ca.

Readers are also encouraged to follow One Book Nova Scotia and the author on Twitter.